Enbridge aims to meet with Premier Christy Clark to discuss concerns

Clark's questions ‘legitimate’ and will be addressed, says Northern Gateway president

Northern Gateway president John Carruthers says Enbridge is ‘fully aligned’ with the view that the jobs and economic benefits of the proposed pipeline can’t come at the cost of the environment.

Photograph by: Ric Ernst Ric Ernst
, Vancouver Sun

Friday is one of the final chances for Enbridge Inc., the British Columbia government and other stakeholders to pitch their arguments to a National Energy Board review panel on the Northern Gateway oil pipeline project.

But for John Carruthers, president of Northern Gateway, it will be simply another day in the long effort to convince an often skeptical public that the $6-billion project moving Alberta crude across B.C. for export to Asia should proceed.

The company was heartened by the re-election earlier this month of the Christy Clark Liberals, despite Premier Clark’s insistence that the project must meet five conditions before the provincial government would consider supporting Northern Gateway, Carruthers said Thursday during an event in Richmond.

“What we understood from the results of the election was that (British Columbians) want a strong economy, they want the jobs the strong economy provides, and they want the social services that the tax revenue from the strong economy can provide,” Carruthers said.

“But they also want to make sure it isn’t done at the expense of the environment, so we are fully aligned with that perspective in terms of providing significant opportunities, in terms of procurement, jobs, tax revenue, and ensuring that the environment is protected. Our response is that I think we are fully aligned with the residents of British Columbia.”

Clark’s conditions for B.C. approval of Northern Gateway, set out last year, include successful completion of an environmental review, “world-leading” marine and dryland spill response systems, consultation and accommodation of B.C. First Nations’ interests, and a “fair share” of the expected financial benefits arising from the daily sale of about 525,000 barrels of heavy Alberta oilsands crude.

Two weeks ago, after her government’s re-election, Clark told The Vancouver Sun that B.C. is still waiting for Enbridge to meet those requirements.

Carruthers said Enbridge needs to “sit down with the province of B.C. and address their issues. They are legitimate questions, legitimate issues to be met so we are fully aligned on that in terms of the need to get a positive decision.”

He said Northern Gateway has committed to going “above and beyond” what’s required by regulation, including world-class spill response and an “unprecedented” package of benefits for aboriginal groups.

Carruthers added that the company is prepared to further discuss and negotiate benefits, if required.

“We think there needs to be a very good dialogue between the various governments, mainly federal and provincial. Northern Gateway tries to play its role in terms of benefits for the region and ensuring that the communities do benefit, but there is a role to be played by all levels of government,” he said.

Carruthers’ comments came at the annual general meeting of Enbridge’s community advisory boards, or CABS, which encompass aboriginal and other community groups and interests in the northern half of the province. The two-day meeting took place in Richmond.

Tertzakian noted that hydraulic fracturing or fracking technology for recovery of deep reserves of oil and gas has led to fundamental changes in global energy development, with the biggest changes happening “right here in North America.”

The biggest challenge, he said, is coming from the railroad industry at a time when public debates over the merit of new pipeline installations seem to dominate headlines.

Tertzakian said the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad has issued a brochure promoting the railway’s interest in oil transport, noting that BNSF is owned by one of the world’s richest men, Warren Buffett.

Ten 100-car trains per day could carry from Alberta the equivalent daily oil volume of Northern Gateway, he added.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.